Basalt rebar does not corrode. It was specifically developed for harsh environments such as sea walls, tunnels, roads, and bridges. One of the major problems the construction industry faces today is corrosion of reinforcing steel, which significantly affects the life and durability of concrete structures. Basalt fiber rebar effectively counters this problem because it is immune to corrosion.
Basalt Rebar is an outstanding product for concrete reinforcement. It weighs 4.5 times less than steel rebar and given that it is 2.5 times stronger than steel, then its strength to weight ratio is 10 times better, this makes it far easier to use and less expensive to ship, as steel is expensive and considerably increases the cost of structure.
Basalt Rebar improves the tensile strengths of concrete in bending and compression
The most important thing is that BFRP Rebar provides excellent anti cracking effect. With steel rebar, too little concrete cover allows the water to penetrate and react with the metal causing concrete to crack. Occasionally concrete aggregates react with steel causing concrete to collapse.
When steel rebar is exposed to water, it rusts and reduces the strength of reinforced concrete. When rusts start building up around the steel rebar, it causes severe internal pressure on the surrounding concrete, leading to cracks in concrete. So, buildings, roads, bridges and tunnels will be crumbling at a much faster rate than they can be repaired.
Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer Rebar (BFRP Rebar) is Eco-Friendly. According to AC , the American Composite Manufacturing Association has demonstrated that the production of BFRP Rebar has less than 74% of the carbon footprint of steel, and basalt has the lowest environmental impact in a Life-Cycle Assessment compared with other types of fiber rebar. Basalt fiber is all natural and produced from stone; having no additives harmless materials that are typically found in other materials.
BFRP Rebar meets all key requirements outlined in the AC 454 document for the 2016 edition. The codebook specifically mentions that Basalt Fiber Rebar can be substituted for steel reinforcement interchangeably.
For the entire rock rebar industry, this was a significant step which led to the large market opening that we see today. Government laws always drive a growing interest in green and sustainable solutions. In the United States, the Imagine Act emphasizes the use of green, sustainable alternative building materials for sustaining infrastructure investments.